Order Description
Please note, research essay requires to start with an executive summary, which should not account for the word count.
Write a research essay to discuss the role of Internet of things, Industry 4.0 and big data together towards
having smart supply chains. (3000 words. Excluding cover page, executive summary and references)
Hints:
1. What is a smart supply chain? Look at the literature to find out!
2. Think about productivity, service level, sustainability, additive manufacturing, circular economy�
and try to build relationships to operations and supply chains from internet of things, industry 4.0
and big data.
3. What would be the economic, environmental, and social impacts of adopting internet of things,
industry 4.0 and big data analytics?
4. What are the innovation opportunities arising from internet of things, Industry 4.0 and big data?
5. Think about digitalisation.
6. You can select a specific industry and build your argument around it. You can also select to be
general. However, make sure you have enough evidence to support your arguments.
7. Examples of industries (both service and manufacturing) could be consumer electronics,
automotive, aerospace, biomedical, tourism, fashion, apparel manufacturing, resource sector, etc.
(feel free to select other examples).
8. Consider bringing operations management topics into your essay. For example try to build
connections with productivity, quality management, sustainability, capacity and facilities layout,
resource planning including material requirement planning and sales and operations planning,
decision making, operation management strategies, inventory management�
The essay should have a clear structure. A simple example of structure is as following (This is only
an example and it is not a perfect example, I strongly suggest you to be creative and build your
own structure that supports your arguments):
1) Title
2) Abstract
3) Introduction (background, problem statement, current methods�)
4) Discussion (critical analysis of literature or data, proposing solutions and
recommendations�)
5) Conclusion
6) References
Marking criteria is:
1. Relevance of your answer to the question (10 marks):
? Objective of the document is easily identified and the object supports the assignment topic.
? Arguments are clearly supported by accurate, concrete, relevant and credible evidence.
? There are sufficient details to support the main points of the document.
2. Application of subject concepts (7 marks):
? productivity, quality management, sustainability, capacity and facilities layout,
resource planning including material requirement planning and sales and operations
planning, decision making, operation management strategies, inventory
management�
3. Critical thinking skills (4 marks):
? Communication, Analysis, Problem solving, Evaluation, Synthesis, and reflection
4. Creativity and innovation (3 marks):
? Developing feasible and effective solutions to address the complex issue(s)
5. Effective balance of breadth & depth of arguments (1 marks)
6. Effective balance of qualitative and quantitative analyses (1 marks)
7. Clarity of expression (1 mark)
8. Referencing: (1 mark)
? Citations are relevant to the topic
? Use UTS?Harvard style
9. Logical structure of the essay (1 mark)
? Logic/clarity of main points, supporting arguments and data
